Building block



Oct. 19, 1948.

J. N. BLACKBOURN BUILDING BLOCK Filed Sept. 11, 1945 IN V .EN TOR.

1777'0/7/VEV65 Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT FF1E BUILDING BLOCK Joseph N. Blackbourn, Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Application September 11, 1945, Serial No. 615,535

1 Claim.

This invention relates to building blocks, an object being to provide composite blocks formed of spaced molded sections of concrete or the like which are joined together by spacing elements in the form of strips of suitable material, such as Wood which can, if desired, b treated to resist deterioration.

It is a further object of the invention to provide blocks which can be of various shapes and which, when set up in the construction of a wall or the like, will permit free circulation of air therethrough for ventilating purposes, or if the wall is sealed, will provide dead air spaces.

Another object is to provide a block which can be readily made.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a block having the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing a modified form of block.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l and 2 designate spaced blocks of concrete or other material which can be molded readily and which has the requisite strength. At the time of molding there is embedded in these blocks the terminal portions of two crossed tie strips 3 which can be formed of Wood suitably treated to resist deterioration, After the molded blocks have been set with these crossed strips embedded therein, said blocks l and 2 will be held fixed relative to each other with a ventilating space 4 defined thereby.

As the connecting or tie strips 3 are crossed, they extend into each block along diverging lines so that the blocks are thus anchored firmly together andas the point oferossing is located in the space 4, minimum resistance is ofiered thereby to the flow of air between the block I and 2.

It is to be understood, of course, that the blocks can be of any suitable sizes and shapes required for the particular work for which they are to be used. For example, as shown in Figure 3, there can be assembled with an ordinary rectangular block 5 an L-shaped block 6 straddling one corner portion of the block 5 and extending throughout the length of one side and one end of said block 5 so that an L-shaped space 1 thus is provided between the blocks. The crossed tie strips 8 act efliciently to maintain the two blocks in proper relation to each other and are 50 located in the blocks that one of these tie strips extends into both end portions of the block 6 so that said end portions are held properly assembled with the block 5. Of course blocks of other shapes could be molded, but in every case it is essential that they be held spaced apart but anchored to each other by crossed tie strips formed preferably of wood.

The outer faces of these blocks can be suitably treated to give a permanent finish if desired and the same is true of the inner surfaces.

Because of the fact that the blocks afford ample ventilation in the walls and thus resist the conduction of moisture through a wall made of the blocks, both the inner and the outer surfaces of the blocks, when set up in the construction of a wall, can be finished to form the inner and outer surfaces of the building Walls in a finished structure. Of course the blocks could be used like ordinary concrete blocks if so desired.

What is claimed is:

A building block comprising blocks spaced apart from each other whereby to provide an air space, and tie strips connecting the same, said strips each being in the form of a length of Wood material, one of the strips being superposed upon the other in non-connected crossed relation relative thereto, said strips lying in parallel horizontal planes, the point of crossing of the strips being disposed substantially at the center of each strip and of the air space, the end portion of the strips being embedded in the blocks and portionsof both strips at the point of crossing being embedded in each block, said embedding constituting the sole connection of the strips to the blocks.

JOSEPH N. BLACKBOURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 701,150 Chrisford May 27, 1902 800,719 Carter Oct. 3, 1905 937,627 Moore et a1 Oct. 19, 1909 1,546,658 Harter July 21, 1925 2,137,759 Martin Nov. 22, 1938 

